Who is converting what to a fax? This doesn’t make sense.
To transmit something as a fax you need a fax modem connected to a phone line, and some software to drive it (Winfax was a popular one, years ago). These days, you would use a commercial email to fax service, which converts an email (optionally with attachments) into a fax page (with any attachments generating additional pages) and with the fax number specified in the subject header.
Is Skydemon really doing this? VFR flight plans are sent via the AFTN, not fax. Sometimes they get converted to fax at the destination end. For example an AFTN message addressed to some small airfield in Spain, say LEAX, is actually routed to LEMG (Malaga) by Spain’s AFTN “switchboard” and then gets converted to a fax to reach LEAX’s fax machine. Nowadays it will more likely be delivered as an email.
they convert FPLs to fax cos they were sending shity FPLs in the past.
But the fax won’t contain anything which the original email didn’t contain.
And anyway, is fax not an approved method for filing flightplans in Slovakia? If it is, then why do you not progress these flightplans? Honestly, I find it emebarassing to read that Bratislava ARO will not touch a flightplan sent in via fax, unless somebody a few minutes calls in. What is the pilot supposed to say anyway? That the flightplan sent by him is real and not a fake?
It’s certainly OK to say “for the pilot’s own benefit, we recommend to call in to make sure everything was received and alright”. But to say “we will ignore your flightplan until you call in” and if nobody calls in, the flighplan never gets into the system, is unbelievable.
Peter wrote:
VFR flight plans are sent via the AFTN, not fax.
If you go through ENR 1.10 of various countries, you will find that fax is an approved method for flight plan submission.
EuroFPL (which SkyDemon relies upon) uses a fax gateway for certain countries. Apparently because those countries told them they would not accept AFTN submissions. I know that Holland did that and it seems that Slovakia took the same approach.
our temporary solution: we will try to contact the pilot in case of something wrong in the FPL (SkyDemon/EuroFPL)
Its getting a bit weird now. First, in the context of flightplans sent via fax (and that seems to include Skydemon) you said that
Flight plan not confirmed by telephone will not be processed for distribution by CARO personnel.
Now you seem to say you do, and that you will contact the sender in case of any problems with it…
A big difference!
But a great change in attitude! :-)
Hunnicat wrote:
negativ! they convert FPLs to fax cos they were sending shity FPLs in the past.
Ok, but then why did you write “If you file a FPL via SkyDemon, EuroFPL or other service using AFTN address KBLIHAEX – the FPL is recieved by FAX!!!”. I’m still confused. If SkyDemon sends the FPL by fax, what does KBLIHAEX has to do with it!?
EuroFPL have a fax gateway and use that for Slovakia. The fax contains the ICAO flight plan and also ORGN/KBLIHAEX (originator). EuroFPL (and thus SkyDemon) are generally known as KBLIHAEX in the community.
I went looking for a picture of Jesus but maybe it would not go down too well with some 
The UK’s AFPEX office also accepts FPs by fax, on +441489612793 (not tested). They don’t like to publicise it. However was was what every airport tower did for FP filing until some years ago. They faxed them to the Heathrow FBU.
So it looks like there are pockets of Japanese resistance fighters in aviation.
A picture of Jesus is fine. It is MOHAMMED’s picture you should not show (if you don’t want flying to be the safest of you activities).
